A house of unique skills
Discover the story behind Ujuzi HUT and our mission to unlock the economic potential of young people across Africa.
Ujuzi HUT is a youth-focused organization dedicated to unlocking the economic potential of young people across sub-Saharan Africa by positioning technology as a catalyst for access to opportunity — and, most of all, inclusive growth.
Grounded in a demand-driven model, Ujuzi HUT aligns skilling with real market needs, equipping both in-school and out-of-school youth, particularly young women, with future-ready capabilities that translate directly into dignified, sustainable employment.
By bridging the gap between talent supply and industry demand, we go beyond skilling to building sustainable pathways into the labor market — leveraging technology, partnerships, data, and innovation to ensure young people are not only job-ready, but meaningfully integrated into the economy.
What's in a Name?
Ujuzi is the Swahili word for unique skills, and HUT is a universally recognized symbol of home and community across Africa.
Together, Ujuzi HUT represents a "house of unique skills" — a space where young people are welcomed, nurtured, and equipped with the capabilities they need to access and thrive in today's world.
Our Mission
To unlock the economic potential of young people by bridging the gap between talent and opportunity through technology, skills development, and inclusive growth.
Our Vision
A thriving Africa where every young person has access to dignified, sustainable employment and the opportunity to build a better future.
What Drives Us
Inclusivity
Creating opportunities for all youth, especially young women and underserved communities.
Innovation
Leveraging technology and creative solutions to solve complex challenges.
Impact
Measuring success by the tangible improvement in people's lives.
Community
Building a supportive ecosystem where everyone can thrive together.
Making a Difference
Our work is already transforming lives and communities across Kenya.
Young people equipped with practical, income-generating skills in fashion, hospitality, and ICT.
Businesses and organizations actively hiring from our network of skilled youth.
Of our graduates find employment or start their own businesses within 6 months.
Collaborating with NGOs, government agencies, and private sector partners.
Of our trainees are young women, breaking barriers and building futures.
Graduates who have launched their own enterprises and are creating jobs for others.
Youth in the informal sector
For the overwhelming majority of young Kenyans, entering the informal sector (Jua Kali) is not a deliberate career choice but a desperate survival mechanism. While this segment absorbs over 80% of the working youth population, those within it face significantly harsher economic realities.
A staggering 72% of young informal entrepreneurs cite a total lack of access to capital as their primary barrier to growth, leaving them excluded from formal banking systems.
Without targeted interventions to recognize and credit these enterprises, provide micro-financing, and bridge the access gap, millions of highly resilient youth remain locked in a cycle of hand-to-mouth underemployment that suppresses their true economic potential. This is precisely the gap Ujuzi HUT's three programmes are built to close.
See how our programmes address this →